The fan-favorite Islander jokes about her time on “Love Island USA” with a cheeky reference to Swift’s “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”
The Love Island USA villa definitely had one Swifite!
Following the Sunday, July 21 season 6 finale, the final four couples were finally given access to their phones again — and runner-up Leah Kateb revealed what helped her get through her bumpy six-week journey in Fiji: superstar Taylor Swift’s discography.
“Just got my phone back,” Leah, 24, wrote on Instagram Story while playing Swift’s “You’re on Your Own, Kid,” from Midnights. “I love you guys more than you could ever know. Nothing could have prepared me for the love that was waiting for me outside the villa.”
In another Story, she confessed to her new followers: “Plz go tell @taylorswift she got me through my entire Love Island experience.”
Her admission was accompanied by one of Swift’s newest songs, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” from The Tortured Poets Department.
In another Swift-inspired post Leah shared a fan video of her and her final partner, Miguel Harichi, accompanied by Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Vault song “Slut!”
She also wrote on Story: “Wow if u know me l was singing this song the entire time in the villa💕💕This is everything 💕.”
Leah’s posts follow her turbulent journey throughout the season. The Los Angeles native was an original cast member and was still standing until the very last night, alongside fellow original “Islanders” Kendall Washington, JaNa Craig and winners Serena Page and Kordell Beckham.
Throughout the season, Leah was paired with a few other male contestants, including day one cast member Rob Rausch. Although Rob and Leah ended the season on a friendly note, the two stirred some drama during the first half of the season.
Leah and Rob initially had eyes for each other, but when “bombshell” Andrea Carmona walked in, Rob quickly left Leah’s side, leading to a fiery and shocking recoupling. A few days later, Leah and her fellow female Islanders were instructed to eliminate a woman who had been at risk of dumping — and Andrea was ousted from the villa.
Rob voiced his outrage with the girls’ decision, assigning the blame to Leah. And she, in turn, held nothing back as she expressed her hurt and frustration over Rob’s decisions to the other women.
But in the latter half of the season, once she was coupled up with her fellow runner-up, Miguel, the clip of her passionate confessions was shown to the whole cast, and Leah had to defend her emotional reactions. Leah took the criticisms in stride and apologized to her castmates and to Rob in private.
As the season came to an end, her connection with Miguel grew — and it became clear that Leah herself had also grown throughout the season.
After nearly six weeks, Serena and Kordell won the season and took home the $100,000 prize. Leah and Miguel placed second, with JaNa and Kenny Rodriguez following in third and Nicole Jacky and Kendall in fourth.
